'Boy from a prefab', Liverpool legend, CBE: Graeme Souness honoured for charity work

PA
Graeme Souness was awarded a CBE for services to football and charity. Credit: PA Images

Liverpool legend Graeme Souness says his charity work shows "the real me" after being made a CBE.

The Scot has been honoured by the Prince of Wales for his efforts in raising awareness for a rare genetic condition.

"It's the most wonderful feeling", he said after the investiture on Tuesday 12 November.

"I'm a boy from a prefab in Edinburgh. This doesn't happen to kids from prefabs."

He received the CBE for his services to charity work and football. Credit: PA Images

Souness is the vice-president of DEBRA UK, a charity which raises awareness of epidermolysis bullosa (EB).

EB is a group of genetic conditions that cause the skin to blister and tear at the slightest touch.

The 71-year-old started working with the charity six years ago, and helped to raise £1.5million for further research when he joined a swimming challenge across the English Channel in 2023.

"I am an emotional man, and when I get involved in this charity and when I’m around these poor children, I am emotional," he said.

“Now that I’ve been involved for six years, I get it now – I understand the plight of these children, and it’s just pushing me to do more and more for them if I can."

Football legend fights back tears over girl living with rare skin condition

The former Liverpool midfielder said he discussed football with Aston Villa fan Prince William during his investiture ceremony.

Souness was both a player and a manager at Liverpool, where he won won five league titles and three European Cups.

He described the honour as being a "team effort", and ranked it “up there with European Cups”.

“You’ve seen [the] real me. I’m not someone who’s pumped up with adrenaline who wants to go to war with everyone on a football pitch – that was my workplace," he said.

"Now I’m trying to be a decent human being.”

The Scot was both a player and a manager for Liverpool Credit: PA Images

“The aim is to get more awareness and hopefully raise a similar amount of money,” he said.

“We’ve got to get it out there that these children have no light at the end of the tunnel.

“Every day is a groundhog day for them, they suffer unimaginable pain and of course there’s a mental aspect to it as well.

“That’s where my focus is right now – it’s not coming back to football. I’ve been there, ticked that box.

"This is about raising awareness and raising money for Debra.”